''Let freedom reign,'' says Ramaphosa at Freedom Day 2024 celebrations

President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that South Africa still have a long way to go, when it comes to freedom. Ramphosa delivered the keynote address at the Freedom Day National Celebrations at the Union Buildings.

South Africans are also celebrating 30 years of democracy. The President said Government’s task over the past three decades has been to bridge the gap between wealth and opportunity in the country.

‘’We know that despite our achievements, South Africa remains a highly unequal society. Our people confront every day the apartheid legacy of unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment. Crime, especially crimes of violence against women and children, are a scourge in our communities.

‘’Despite great progress, many households do not have electricity or clean water. There are still many families that go hungry. There is a huge divide between the rich and the poor. We see this divide in access to health care, in access to safe transport and proximity to services and work opportunities.’’

‘’At times, it seems that these challenges threaten to undermine the achievements we have made over the past thirty years. And yet we know that if we work together, if we harness the same spirit of unity that we did in 1994, we will surely overcome them.’’

History shows us that by working together in pursuit of a common goal, we will succeed. Our journey since 1994 has proved that we are a nation of optimism, resilience and hope.  We believe in a better tomorrow and it is within our hands to shape our collective destiny.  It is within our hands to rebuild South Africa and make it a place of equal opportunity and shared prosperity where no-one is left behind,’’ said Ramaphosa

Meanwhile, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) highlighted the importance of individuals being able to express themselves in languages they understand.

“Today as we celebrate this remarkable milestone, it is essential to recognize that for democracy to flourish, linguistic diversity must be valued as a reliable guide towards the future. Engaging people in a language they understand is critical for genuine participation in democracy,” said Lance Schultz, PanSALB CEO.

He added that South Africa’s expansion from two official languages during the apartheid era to 12 in the new dispensation is a restatement to the great strides that have been made in safeguarding language rights.

“There is no doubt that one of the key aspects of democracy is engaging and communicating with people in languages that they understand and for the past 30 years, the right to use one’s own language  has been protected,” said Schultz.

Done by: Mitchum George